The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-02-03

of Florence.
Queen Margherita is, l suppose ga
This m5ment'' Gn Florentine phrase
one Of the most learned, most beauti,
ful, in every way most accomplished
women in Europe-certainly the mos
actively engaged in good works OF
every kind. According to accounts
given OF her daily life by those who say
they have the means Of knowing how
this Queen passes her time. there is no
tradcswOman, dressmaker or seamstress
in our country that works harder, more
hours in the day, and with closer appli-
cation 10 the accomplishment of the
various work in which she is engaged
than the Queen of Italy. She does not
merely gi"e her orders. She plans.
herself, works at the details Of her in
Vulnerable charities. that the utmost
may bc accomplished with the least
money, for the people of Italy are poor.
the taxes are very high for the support
ii the government, the immense stand
ing army and MI the varied improve
ments, which seem at present to be
forced upon Italy, that she may hold
her newly gained position among the
nations Of Europe. Great economy is
a necessity.
Perhaps my readers will chance to
know more of the antecedents and char
acter of good Queen Margherita than |
did when, on coming TO Italy a few
weeks since, 1 found everywhere in
Northern and in Central Itaiy, in Venice,
and especially in coming to Florence,
where the royal family were staying
Tor few days, sach an enthusiasm of
love for her expressed, whenever there
was an alluSiOn to her, that deter
mined TO satisfy myself as to that on
which it was founded. Now in telling
you, my friends, something of what it has
Interested me to learn, l am aware that
I may he telling some who may chance
10 be among my readers nothing but
what they knew before. Let such pass
it by. write this letter especially to
some of my young friends, who will,
trust, be glad to sit down around my
table Cfor have no fire to invite you to
come around) and have little chat
about the Queen of Italy, her history,
hcr character and what she is pleased
10 busy herself about in these still try
ing times, when it is vet an honor to be
King and Queen of Italy. Victor En-
once wrote in a private letter:
81 have the honor of bearing the title
Of King, and sometimes l find it very
heavy" The present King and Queen
might also, l fancy, say the same, for
they are by no means yet out of the
woOds-a thicket of difficulties to really
settle affairs that will make this country
in reality-what it is in name
limited Italy"
Queen Margherita is, rs you may or
may not be aware, own cousin to her
husband, UmbGrto, the King She was
the daughter of Victor Emmanuers
brother, the Duke of Genoa, who died
young, leaving two children, ,Margher-
ita and her brother, to the guardianship
of the King, her uncle, and her mother.
who is still living. 1t is said she is a
superior woman, who superintended
the education of her daughter with
great care and in accordance with the
wishes of her husband, whose dying in
functions were that his children should
be educated IN patrie. He had great
faith in early impressions, and he
wished his children should love their
country, Is he and his brother had
done. Indeed, love of country and
love of their Own family-Strong at
tachment to brothers and sisters-is a
ruling trait of the house OF Savoy, to
which both the King and Queen of Italy
belong. Love of the people of their
is a trait no less strong. Again
and again it has been said TO me, in |
speaking of the familiarity of the King
and Queen with the people. their driv-
ing out among them without a guard, |
with no royal parade whatever, allow
ing the poor really to stop the carriage
and kiss the hand of their adored Mar
gherita. democracy is in the blood
of the house of Savoy" 1t is no pre-
tense or dcmagogiSm that the King goes
among the people, that the Queen visits
the schools, and they together visit
hospitals, artists studios, etc They
believe in the people, in democracy,
and the King has been known openly to
express his belief in it and to say: LAS
King it behOoves me only to be the first
of democrats-to lead the spirit of the
age among my people" When his min
listers have tried sometimes to disSuade
him Fem visiting dreadful places in
these old cities-places infected with
would not be dissuaded. |
but said Where my people can live and
die sure can CO."
In his present visit to Florence he
himself went to the Ghetto-the Five
Points of Florence-and when he saw
for himself what places people were
living in, be said: LET all these build
ingsSe demolished; they are not fit for
human beings to live in. A people
can't be improved as long as they live
In such places" And their charities to
help on improvements, to encourage in